Gift Economy of a mystic
A recent article about Paulo Coelho (a Brazilian writer whose works are filled with mysticism) describes how his bookshelves collapsed one day and he realized he was hoarding things he didn’t need. So, now his shelves are empty and he regularly leaves his books on park benches and other places when he is done.
In another way to play with “free as in libre” and profit, Coelho has had a third of his upcoming novel posted on his blog, only removing the text when the book was released in print.
Software and patents
A lot of people who understand and enjoy Open Source Software don’t necessarily realize one of the main problems with the way the Software industry entrenches itself in a way to remove the ability to innovate form the general public and society as whole..
Software is a mutant in the sense that it can be both copyrighted and patented. The article Software ain’t patentable, damn it! (2) points out the difference fairly well while discussing a legal case putting junk patents at risk.